Related Articles

"There is no question, not merely of US but UK troops, not being able to protect themselves of their lives being put at risk, or being under anything other than US or UK command," he said.

Claims of a rift between London and Washington emerged yesterday when Mr Blair said the Iraqi government would be able to veto coalition military operations, such as the recent offensive on Fallujah.

However, Colin Powell, the American secretary of state, said that American troops would not be constrained the Iraqi authorities.

Mr Blair's comments today came after Anne Campbell, the Labour MP for Cambridge, praised him for distancing himself from Mr Bush's policies.

Michael Howard, the Tory leader, also pressed Mr Blair on whether Britain will send more troops to Iraq.

Mr Blair did not say if the decision had been taken, but said that it would be governed by whether the coalition has achieved all its objectives.

"It's a question of whether any additional troops or difference deployment of troops would help secure that objective of a stable and secure Iraq, where there is sufficient security that the political process can work."